San Francisco Supercross Insider

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"Overall I think it was a good night. It was just a tough track to pass on. I felt like I was sitting there being patient and if I was going to do something, I’ve got to make it happen, now or never. I saw my chance and took it…" - Jake Weimer (19)

“Really, really, gravelly. The whole track was just rocks everywhere.”

That’s how Supercross Lites winner Jake Weimer described the racing surface. After six years of laying down a bed of road base, and then scooping it all back together with the dirt at the end of the night’s racing, that’s what they ended up with to race on in San Francisco.

But the good news was, for the first time since 2003, the race was held under clear skies, and no rain.

Jake explained, “I got a really good start and I was out in the lead and just…that was 100 percent. That was everything that I had. He was creeping up on me a little bit, and I was thinking to myself, ‘It is what it is. I’m doing as much as I can, and just trying to stay smooth.’ I did everything I could, and he made a little mistake and I was able to capitalize on it. It was a tough night for me, and I didn’t feel really comfortable all day. So for me to come out with the heat race win and the main event win is definitely a big step for me.”

That was the second race win of the season for the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider, and he’s now just four points behind the series leader, Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Ryan Dungey.

For his part, Ryan said, “Overall I think it was a good night. It was just a tough track to pass on. I felt like I was sitting there being patient and if I was going to do something, I’ve got to make it happen, now or never. I saw my chance and took it…and I don’t know what happened. I really don’t. I thought I was clean, and something just went wrong…I couldn’t tell you where. But I got back up, got into second and got some points back. Overall, I’m happy. It was a fun night and I enjoyed it. It’s a fight, man. I gave it my all. I went for it, and I guess leaving here we ended up getting second after that crash. I could have just settled. Second, hey, it’s good, but I made and attempt and went for it, and it just didn’t work out. I got second, podium…not bad at all.”

Trey Canard made his first appearance since suffering a concussion in Phoenix, and he grabbed the final spot on the podium.

Okay, that takes care of the 250cc bikes, but how about the big-bores?

Well, when James Stewart (San Manuel / Yamaha / JSE) rounded the first turn in the lead, and followed closely by Mike Alessi (Rockstar Makita Suzuki), Ryan Villopoto (Monster Energy Kawasaki), and Chad Reed (Rockstar Makita Suzuki), it looked like we might be in for a resumption of the duel that James and Chad had shown at Anaheim 1.

“Alessi was riding great. He put a solid five or six laps together, so it made it tough. I was just frustrated with myself. I learned a lot in the heat race. You didn’t need to be behind anyone, and it was really tough to pass." - Chad Reed (1)

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way. It took Chad a few laps to get around his teammate, and in the meantime, Stewart was able to build a comfortable lead.

Afterward, Stewart said, “It’s definitely been better the last couple weeks than weeks past. We’re going to Anaheim soon, and we’re just going to have to try to keep it going. We’re still six points back, and still a long ways to go.”

Afterwards, Ryan Villopoto said, “Alessi was in front of Chad, and it seemed like he was holding Chad up, and I was all over him. As soon as Chad got Alessi I was able to get him right away, too, and then just lock on Chad’s back wheel the whole 20.”

Ryan continued, “It was pretty technical. It was slippery with the sun going down, and the moisture coming up, it made it even worse. It was definitely tricky to go fast on.” He was grateful, however, that it was actually dry for a change. “I’ve been here twice now, and it’s been a mudhole. I’m from Seattle, so I see that all the time, and that’s the last thing that us riders want to do is race in the mud, especially Supercross.”

For his part, Chad did get the start he was looking for…at least in the main event. “Yeah, my start was much improved over my heat race.

We changed my starting device a little bit and just really focused on it. I was happy to definitely be in the top three. Ryan actually made a pass on me on the first lap, and put me back to fourth. I had to get right back in there and try to make something happen.”

As for his teammate who made it tough on him early in the main, Chad said, “Alessi was riding great. He put a solid five or six laps together, so it made it tough. I was just frustrated with myself. I learned a lot in the heat race. You didn’t need to be behind anyone, and it was really tough to pass. I was just trying to stay on him and if there was just a little bit of a gap I was going to go for it. Just try to put the pressure on, but keep the race flow going. I didn’t want to throw it in on him and maybe go down like Dungey did. I knew Ryan and everybody was right on me. So just try to be smart and make a good clean pass.”

There were a couple interesting tidbits from the weekend, including a DNS for Boost Mobile / ampm / Monster Energy / Troy Racing’s Jason Lawrence. His team issued a press release stating that, “…he was administered an IV and, according to AMA rules, is now ineligible to race tonight’s WSX Lites contest at AT&T Park.” That left the AMA officials scratching their heads because that rule is intended to deal with riders who were getting IVs to battle heat stroke, not dehydration from an illness.

Stewart has quickly closed the points gap since his DNF in Anaheim 1.

The other item was that we spotted at least one rider (James Stewart) being escorted to a post-race anti-doping test. This was something that we heard would be happening during the ’09 season, and which most of the riders and trainers that we’ve talked to welcome. They’re looking forward to ensuring that the field is level, and free from performance-enhancing drugs. As James’ trainer, Aldon Baker told us, “I think it’s good. We’ve all spoken about it, and we think this sport’s at a high enough level that it needs to be checked. I’m pumped. But I think the top three should be checked every weekend, and a random. They need to keep on it, and it’s something that needs to be addressed.”